Berckmans plan flawed

I was unable to attend the meeting concerning the “realignment” of Berckmans Road, but have followed the process of the proposed changes in The Augusta Chronicle.

I am amazed with this whole activity. At one of the initial meetings, the traffic engineers stated that the reason was because of congestion on Berckmans – which floored me. I travel Berckmans a minimum of twice a day, and the only congestion is during Masters Week. Otherwise, it is a nice drive.

Now it is stated that the change is to move people to west Augusta. No reason is given for a need to move people to west Augusta. At the first meeting, the engineers stated that any new traffic light has to be evaluated for a rotary before the state would allow a new light. Now they want to move the Berckmans light to the River Ridge Drive location.

When is the evaluation for the rotary being done? Speaking of rotaries, why even consider one at Ingleside Drive? That traffic light works very well, and a rotary will only cause more problems than it could solve. A light is there now, so the state does not have any reason to force a change.

Also, what happens to the people who want to get into National Hills Shopping Center? That will become a real bottleneck, or the River Ridge Drive will become the new entrance and cause more problems. Since Alexander Drive has a railroad crossing before it connects with River Watch Parkway, how will the change in Berckmans speed any movement of vehicles in either direction?

The lies just get bigger every day. A simple widening could and would provide more for less. Again, our tax dollars are going for something that only aids a few when there are many other projects that need attention immediately.

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there are other roads / potholes / missing safety signs that tsplost money could go to. i thought tsplost was to expand infrastructure for commerce / industry and would help bring jobs. this plan just makes two properties of wealthy gentlemen contiguous. and ruins a lovely estate to boot.

No reason is given for a need to move people to west Augusta. . . . what happens to the people who want to get into National Hills Shopping Center?

From the letter we can surmise that Mr. Stuhler travels Ingleside drive east and turns left at Berckmans, then travels north, going across Washington Rd. to shop at Fresh Market in National Hills Shopping Center. Okay, he will be a little inconvenienced because under the new plan he will have to travel northwest on the new Berckmans to a light at Washington Rd. and Alexander, then turn right for a block and a half, then turn left into National Hills Shopping Center. It's not that much out of the way.

On the other hand, anyone observing today's traffic at Berckmans and Washington will back me up on this: 90% of the traffic on Berkmans at the light will turn left on Washington Rd. The other 10% is split between turning right on Washington or going straight into the shopping center. That's the reason, Mr. Stuhler. No one gave you the reason because it's self-evident.

When life hands you lemons, you can make lemonade. Mr. Stuhler may find, once the Berckmans re-route is done, that he will find Publix and Kroger at Alexander & Washington very convenient for groceries. Too bad about Fresh Market.

Mr. Stuhler provided us valuable information he learned at a meeting that is not provided in the story. He tells us the light at Berckmans & Washington (which will not be needed after the re-route) is intended to be moved to River Ridge & Washington. That makes sense. Then Mr. Stuhler asks, “When is the evaluation for the rotary being done?”

I don't know, but if an evaluation is required, I'm sure Cassell's staff will do one. The answer will likely be for two reasons:

1. Cost: Real estate at River Ridge & Washington is very expensive. A new roundabout will require purchase of right of way, and the cost could be much more than the benefit.

2. Safety: A roundabout at River Ridge & Washington would put traffic dangerously close to the front steps of National Hills Baptist Church.

No the reason is because of the deep pockets of the Augusta National want to fence in that entire part of the property. This will happen because they have the pull, there are plenty of other roads in Augusta that need that TSPLOST money.

Berckman's Road is not a crowed road except one week of the year, and easily avoided then. Even with 90% turning left onto Washington Road, at the height of rush hour traffic, there still is no wait through more than one, ONE, traffic light cycle. Traffic accidents are very rare on any part of the road, including at the lights.

This is a humongous waste of time and money, and it's infuriating that the taxpayers are being forced to pay for something so far down the list of genuine priorities for this county. Somebody needs to file an injunction before we end up with another Azziz of a change in our community.